In the past, this hiccup might have ruined the trip for someone such as me… After a marathon day of travel that involved me being up for some 30 hrs, I discovered not all that I had intended to bring with me had made the long journey from home. Most distressing, at least of those things discovered, was the battery charger for my $300 camera rendering it essentially useless.
I began the morning transferring photographs to my laptop from my memory card of a journey to Israel nearly two years ago and instantly discovered the charger gone. The mixing of the two events culminated in me being reminded of the hiccups of previous journeys. Whether it be broken cameras, lost phones (2x), damaged check cards or catastrophic failure of your hiking boots just prior to an accent to 13,700 ft, nearly every trip I’ve taken has not only had “disasters” such as this, but they often surface at the intial phase of the trip.
Along with the consistent beginnings of my trips over the last 5 years, my reactions to such things have historically been quite consistent as well… to some this pattern may sound remotely familiar perhaps even strikingly similar to their own experiences. It starts with denial. Then moves very quickly to anger and normally sits there for quite some time… Then moves on to depression and eventually onto reluctant acceptance. This is normally accompanied by some questioning as to why things such as this keep occurring and normally there is some wrestling with God as well.
Today, my choice of words gives you perhaps insight into a changed reaction… I began by calling this a hiccup and move away from calling it a catastrophe. I write this merely an hour after discovery and the stress is nearly non-existent. Growth? If only I could be so lucky. I hope its not just exhaustion from travel. I hope instead it is me finding peace outside of circumstance. Because what I’ve had to remind myself was that God never promised perfect circumstances… He instead has promised he would be with us through them.
Tune in for more… hopefully tomorrow
Tim
